Chelsea survive scare to top group

Chelsea came from behind to clinch top spot in their Champions League qualifying group here Tuesday with a 2-1 victory over Slovakian whipping boys MSK Zilina.

Second half goals from from Daniel Sturridge and Florent Malouda saved Chelsea’s blushes at Stamford Bridge after Babtounde Bello had given Zilina a shock 1-0 lead after 19 minutes.

Chelsea went into the match amid uncertainty over the position of manager Carlo Ancelotti, reported to be increasingly disenchanted at the club following the abrupt sacking of assistant Ray Wilkins.

Needing only a draw to be certain of first place in Group F, Ancelotti rang the changes with youngsters Josh McEachran, Jeffrey Bruma, Gael Kakuta, Patrick van Aanholt and Sturridge all named in the starting line-up.

But the gamble looked like backfiring midway through the first half when Bello combined cleverly with Robert Jez before deftly finishing from the edge of the box to give Zilina an unlikely lead.

The lead was no more than Zilina deserved, the visitors looking anything but overawed in a confident opening period that put Chelsea’s youngsters on the back foot.

Chelsea gradually began to up the tempo but it was Zilina who nearly doubled their lead when Jez waltzed through the home defence only to be denied at the near post by Ross Turnbull on 31 minutes.

At the other end, Chelsea were increasingly finding their range, Sturridge rifling in a long-range shot beaten away superbly by Martin Dubravka.

Malouda was the next to test the Zilina defence, sending a dipping shot from 30 yards whizzing just over the bar.

Malouda was back on target moments later when his shot from just outside the area was deflected wide for a corner but the Zilina defence held firm.

Ancelotti had clearly seen enough by half-time, and Chelsea came out for the second half with the dependable Salomon Kalou brought on for Gael Kakuta.

Kalou’s introduction had the desired effect and within six minutes of the restart, the Blues had drawn level.

Kalou darted down the left flank and his firm low cross somehow eluded a clutch of Zilina defenders enabling Sturridge to nip in unmarked and tap in.

Didier Drogba thought he’d given Chelsea the lead when his vicious inswinging free-kick was desperately palmed onto the post by Dubravka on 61 minutes.

With Chelsea dominating territory and possession, it was only a matter of time before the Zilina defence buckled.

And on 86 minutes, Malouda duly got their winner, Drogba heading on for Malouda who ghosted in to finish from close range.